Chris, I've been trying to outline a "socialmedia framework" ever since someone in a virtual team meeting asked if I had one. WELL DONE on this post. I'm going back now and dissecting it. @jmacofearth
Steve Woodruff
· 6 months ago
Just for sake of simple on-line "findability", a passive basic info repository like Google Profile (and, for professionals, VisualCV) might not be a bad idea as well.
Jeff Crites
· 6 months ago
Great stuff. I've used the 'outpost' terminology before, but really like the 'passport' definition too. This is valuable for any brand, whether an individual, SME or Fortune 500. Narrowing down the places you are active in is key, so the digital life isn't overwhelming. But having awareness of and the ability to step into other 'passpoart' platforms is advisable as well.
rebeccacaroe
· 6 months ago
Love it. And of course it works for B2B and B2C which is important because I do mainly B2B and I find that the "rules" are different for organisations than consumers.
Michael D. Walker
· 6 months ago
Hi Chris,
I think this is a really good framework you've outlined here. A little surprised that you didn't mention Google Alerts along with Alltop & Blogsearch as a key listening tool but still very good.
Can easily see this becoming a core document you expand & revise over the years as tools & technology evolve.
Looking forward to reading the next post Make Presence Management Work For You.
Thanks,
Michael D. Walker
claus
· 6 months ago
That's a thing on my to-do list, to fill the missing parts on social websites and networks.
Thanks Chris for your advice
david lee king
· 6 months ago
I do much the same thing, but I blend the outposts and the passports together a bit more than you do. So instead of having two categories, I have one lump of outposts, some of which we are active in, and some we aren't. My Library's MySpace page is a good example of that - it's been not so active, but I've "re-established base contact" with it last week, to see if I can start getting interaction going with our 600 or so friends there.
But the general jist is much the same. Thanks for the post - good stuff!
Jean-Paul
· 6 months ago
Great post Chris! I already used some of the Listening tips mentioned above.Having an efficient dashboard to collect information related to our business is crucial. Now I need to prioritize which one of this platforms to use for outpost and passport regarding the type of my business. Waiting for the next post.
Josh Jacobs
· 6 months ago
this is wonderful sharing as it is very important to keep our eye on latest happening. Combination of all type of promotion is the important part as we cant relay only on one or few promotional techniques. thanks for sharing
Stuart Foster
· 6 months ago
Print out. Post on Wall. That's really all I could add. Chris might have saved companies at least 10K in consulting from this post alone. Scarily useful.
Ari Herzog
· 6 months ago
Did Chris save those companies from hiring you, Stuart?
Stuart Foster
· 6 months ago
In a sense. He kind of knocked basic SM consulting out of the park. Whether or not those companies could interpret this correctly is another story...
John McTigue
· 6 months ago
I would add Twitter and LinkedIn to the listening station list along with Google Reader, Alerts, AllTop. I get a lot of my ideas and places to check out from these resources. Looking forward to Part 2.
Scott Gould
· 6 months ago
Chris,
I've been using your Outpost and Base Camp strategy for a while now, and it has proven to be excellent.
In pitches, it shows the phases of growth, and in building an online brand, it provides a straight forward way to actually build a powerful presence.
This is a much appreciated addition. Thank you for keeping up the great content.
Daniel Decker
· 6 months ago
Well said.
Zoe
· 6 months ago
Chris,
These simple analogies offer such a useful tool for creating a meaningful presence. When we have a tangible way to envision our presence, it suddenly seems a lot more important to be genuine and useful at our various points of chatter.
I wrote another version of this analogy in The Unconventional Guide to Art and Money (which I co-wrote with Chris Guillebeau) -- I described these elements of online presence as the heart, the limbs, the ears, and the mouth. Same idea, different words :).
Catherine Cantieri, Sorted
· 6 months ago
Great advice; *thank you* for spelling it out like that!
We organizers need to-do lists, you know. :)
facebook-1640764667
· 6 months ago
Brilliant, as always! Thanks!
michaelqtodd
· 6 months ago
Exceptional stuff Chris.The secret for all you who have read this is to go out and do.
If you have not commented on this post after reading it you have missed out on its biggest point sorry!
The point Chris is making is that this is a conversation.Its not one way!!
Devin Liles
· 6 months ago
This outline/overview is just what I have been looking for as I learn the ends and outs of web presence and social media. Have felt of late that I am lost in the trees without understanding the ecosystem of the forest. I look forward to the next installment. Thanks a lot.
L
· 6 months ago
I found this information to be informative, of high value, and I am extremely appreciative of the format in which you delivered this much needed information. Thank you.
Jon Buscall
· 6 months ago
Thanks for sharing, Chris. This is an awesome post in that you're actually handing out digital marketing strategy 101. I can see this is going to be one of those posts you (and visitors) come back to time and again.
When you say:
Start a spreadsheet or simple database to note where these conversations are happening, and to record info on who is out there in the space.
I would recommend doing this with one of the excellent mind-map applications that's out there. It's nice to visualize the points of connection and conversation. If you're on a Mac I recommend Tinderbox. The learning cure is quite steep but the benefits are worth it.
businessethos
· 6 months ago
Chris,
I love how you outlined the presence framework: Listen, Passports, Outposts and Homebase. Clear & Simple.
Don't forget Intense Debate.
Best,
Coretta Jackson, MBA
Elizabeth
· 6 months ago
Excellent post Chris! I think many people get so involved in the other points that they forget about strengthening home base. By the same token though, if they don't build up their outposts and passports they won't get many people to visit their home base. I think you hit it right on the head with forming a tripod of these three things.
Georgia Motoc
· 6 months ago
Chris, I find that building your presence, maintaining all the passports, doing outposts takes a lot of time. You need a full time job in order to do all the above, I never have time to browse (with purpose of course) for more than 1 hour at night. It's impossible to know about everybody and everything out there.
Sunday
· 6 months ago
Good system you've got in place. I may incorporate some into the system I'm using. Thanks for the great post!
ramonbnuezjr
· 6 months ago
Chris as always great work. I have been rattling my head on how to build up in this space. Although I have a number of ideas - what you have presented here lays down the groundwork on what needs to be done.
L
· 6 months ago
Chris, is there one or two sites that you recommend that you can post blogs and feeds to that will be a hub to all those other sites. So, you can be on one site, hit send, and it feeds your info to all the other sites?
Adrian Bita
· 6 months ago
Great article...as usual. It makes a lot of sense in terms of the general approach, individual steps to be taken, and how everything fits into a coherent and successful online presence. I know I will try to apply this to my own needs and experiences.
Always a wealth of very useful information. Thank you so much!
Timothy Carter
· 6 months ago
Chris man you continue to give people a trail to follow that you've blazed! I'm definitely going to have to tweet this because so many people who are trying to live the social media networking/marketing life online have absolutely no direction!
Thanks for continuing to kick incredible VALUE and knowledge out to the peeps!
Timothy Carter
Kendra Kinnison
· 6 months ago
Thanks for the great post. This framework is very helpful for explaining the various tools and platforms available and how to utilize them in a cohesive strategy. So many small business owners are overwhelmed by the options and jargon that they do not move beyond a basic website. I'll definitely be sharing this post with some of my colleagues.
Thanks again! kk
Aimee Greeblemonkey
· 6 months ago
Great post. Thanks, Chris.
frank barry
· 6 months ago
Shouldn't you start by figuring out what your goals and objectives are so that you know what to focus on and what success looks like?
Jaimey
· 6 months ago
Thanks Chris! I see the applicability of this framework for both business and grassroots, non-busines communities. It validates that there is not a shortage of community to interface with, affect, and build collaboratively.
Career Sherpa
· 6 months ago
Chris, nice job! I truly see how this strategy will benefit the job seeker. The other comments have been helpful too! I sang your praises for this in my recent post...hope I got it right! http://hannahmorgan.typepad.com/hannah_morgan/2...
DawnTrenee
· 6 months ago
You did a really did a great job here of explaining the whole social media process and the different areas need for full participation in social media. I have setup my different areas. I agree with Michael I was going to suggest Google Alerts for help in the listening portion. I do have many passive outposts where I don't really interact daily with, but pick a main "site" my active participation.
Janie Graziani
· 6 months ago
Great post, Chris! This is going to help integrate my social media plan into the larger communications plan at work. Thanks!
ShellyKramer
· 6 months ago
Chris,
I speak to small business owners all the time about developing a presence in the social media sphere. What a great resource you've compiled and your usual down-to-earth, succinct way of pulling it all together is terrific. As always, you're providing a valuable resource to all of us and it is much appreciated.
Scott Germaise
· 6 months ago
I'm sure there's a ton more Outposts of various sorts, but I'd add Slideshare.com as well. That's a great place to put stuff both for it's own sake as well as to link to.
Scott
Christina Katz
· 6 months ago
This is helpful. I imagine many folks are overwhelmed by what you are describing, but for those of us who are used to creating online hubs and then spoking out from there, it's very useful. (And there are no pirates involved, so I'm happy.)
Thanks, Chris.
WWAHHMpreneur
· 6 months ago
Chris, I'm already doing most, if not all of this. Some of it I learned from you and hubspot and other awesome experts in social / inbound marketing.
I am, once again, very glad to be one of your subscribers. You definitely have put this out there in a detailed way that we all can apply now to improve our efforts immediately.
Thanx, Dude! 8)
Shilpi
· 6 months ago
Hi Chris, I am a novice blogger and this is my first attempt. I liked the way you broke down the fundamentals of a social media strategy. This helps me with my strategy as well as you verbalised it so much better than I would have. Thanks!
Lawton Chiles
· 6 months ago
Chris, great stuff. Thanks for the reminder to have all our ducks in a row-talking, sharing and communicating is simple-but these tools help a great deal.
Thanks for all you do.
Lee Odden
· 6 months ago
For some, a missed opportunity with this kind of Framework is the output of content that comes from creation/participation and it's availability to search.
Search is a formidable discovery channel and any digital content that can be indexed by a search engine presents an entry point. Except of course, when the passports, outposts and home base are oblivious to what people are searching for.
Find out what people are searching for relevant to your goals and flavor (NOT stuff) your digital content as such. Make it easier for those that are not already socially connected to you, to find your outposts, passports and home base via search. You you may very well amplify the effect of the sage advice Chris gives about building a presence.
rebeccahappy
· 6 months ago
This is an excellent outline of how to begin and maintain.I have yet to decide my homebase as I get introduced to the various tools and platforms available. I really liked the point you made about tailoring it to your skills (writing/speaking) Homebase and outposts sound good because I can't see how you could really add any value or support if you kept an active presence all over the place.You would be spread way to thinly. Good point by Stuartfoster to print it out and hang on wall.
MarkLaPete
· 6 months ago
I will come back to this post OFTEN ... until I get it all under the hood: A Simple Presence Framework by Chris Brogan is tops at this time for how to think and plan next steps out here on th'net. Thanks Chris! @marklapete
Michael Searles
· 6 months ago
Chris
Outstanding article.
You nailed the basics of social media marketing online. And let's face it. The basics will get us a long way when we stick to them and not be tempted to deviate.
I learned a little bit more here too.
Best luck!
Michael Searles 'The Luck Doctor' Expert in all things Lucky
Michael Searles
· 6 months ago
Chris
Outstanding article.
You nailed the basics of social media marketing online. And let's face it. The basics will get us a long way when we stick to them and not be tempted to deviate.
I learned a little bit more here too.
Best luck!
Michael Searles 'The Luck Doctor' Expert in all things Lucky
hvac control
· 2 months ago
Thank you for sharing your experience! I appreciate your business approach! I also think that without durable work your have no chances to achieve real success!
Carl
· 1 month ago
Thank you, this post is absolutely great! Awsome ideas that will help me a lot!!!
homecontrol
· 1 month ago
Blog is doing the same work as news does, yes news have some formats and styles. So If you will post all news in blog style then it will read by so many users.
Pat Curry
· 1 week ago
I get so much out of your posts Chris. It sometimes takes me an hour or more to finish because I can't wait to check out a suggestion you make and get side-tracked as I just did with Yelp. Very worthwhile side-trip though. Thanks!
Veronica Hay
· 1 week ago
Hi Chris Great Post. You have given us some great information and I especially agree with you about Twitter. I use it the most and find it worthwhile. Thanks for breaking things down so that we can easily assimilate them. Enjoy your day. Veronica Hay
All Comments
I think this is a really good framework you've outlined here.
A little surprised that you didn't mention Google Alerts along with Alltop
& Blogsearch as a key listening tool but still very good.
Can easily see this becoming a core document you expand & revise over the years as tools & technology evolve.
Looking forward to reading the next post Make Presence Management Work For You.
Thanks,
Michael D. Walker
Thanks Chris for your advice
But the general jist is much the same. Thanks for the post - good stuff!
I already used some of the Listening tips mentioned above.Having an efficient dashboard to collect information related to our business is crucial.
Now I need to prioritize which one of this platforms to use for outpost and passport regarding the type of my business.
Waiting for the next post.
thanks for sharing
I've been using your Outpost and Base Camp strategy for a while now, and it has proven to be excellent.
In pitches, it shows the phases of growth, and in building an online brand, it provides a straight forward way to actually build a powerful presence.
This is a much appreciated addition. Thank you for keeping up the great content.
These simple analogies offer such a useful tool for creating a meaningful presence. When we have a tangible way to envision our presence, it suddenly seems a lot more important to be genuine and useful at our various points of chatter.
I wrote another version of this analogy in The Unconventional Guide to Art and Money (which I co-wrote with Chris Guillebeau) -- I described these elements of online presence as the heart, the limbs, the ears, and the mouth. Same idea, different words :).
We organizers need to-do lists, you know. :)
If you have not commented on this post after reading it you have missed out on its biggest point sorry!
The point Chris is making is that this is a conversation.Its not one way!!
When you say:
I would recommend doing this with one of the excellent mind-map applications that's out there. It's nice to visualize the points of connection and conversation. If you're on a Mac I recommend Tinderbox. The learning cure is quite steep but the benefits are worth it.
I love how you outlined the presence framework: Listen, Passports, Outposts and Homebase. Clear & Simple.
Don't forget Intense Debate.
Best,
Coretta Jackson, MBA
Always a wealth of very useful information.
Thank you so much!
Thanks for continuing to kick incredible VALUE and knowledge out to the peeps!
Timothy Carter
Thanks again!
kk
http://hannahmorgan.typepad.com/hannah_morgan/2...
I have setup my different areas.
I agree with Michael I was going to suggest Google Alerts for help in the listening portion.
I do have many passive outposts where I don't really interact daily with, but pick a main "site" my active participation.
I speak to small business owners all the time about developing a presence in the social media sphere. What a great resource you've compiled and your usual down-to-earth, succinct way of pulling it all together is terrific. As always, you're providing a valuable resource to all of us and it is much appreciated.
Scott
Thanks, Chris.
I'm already doing most, if not all of this. Some of it I learned from you and hubspot and other awesome experts in social / inbound marketing.
I am, once again, very glad to be one of your subscribers. You definitely have put this out there in a detailed way that we all can apply now to improve our efforts immediately.
Thanx, Dude! 8)
Thanks for all you do.
Search is a formidable discovery channel and any digital content that can be indexed by a search engine presents an entry point. Except of course, when the passports, outposts and home base are oblivious to what people are searching for.
Find out what people are searching for relevant to your goals and flavor (NOT stuff) your digital content as such. Make it easier for those that are not already socially connected to you, to find your outposts, passports and home base via search. You you may very well amplify the effect of the sage advice Chris gives about building a presence.
I really liked the point you made about tailoring it to your skills (writing/speaking)
Homebase and outposts sound good because I can't see how you could really add any value or support if you kept an active presence all over the place.You would be spread way to thinly.
Good point by Stuartfoster to print it out and hang on wall.
Outstanding article.
You nailed the basics of social media marketing online. And let's face it. The basics will get us a long way when we stick to them and not be tempted to deviate.
I learned a little bit more here too.
Best luck!
Michael Searles
'The Luck Doctor'
Expert in all things Lucky
Outstanding article.
You nailed the basics of social media marketing online. And let's face it. The basics will get us a long way when we stick to them and not be tempted to deviate.
I learned a little bit more here too.
Best luck!
Michael Searles
'The Luck Doctor'
Expert in all things Lucky
Great Post. You have given us some great information and I especially agree with you about Twitter. I use it the most and find it worthwhile. Thanks for breaking things down so that we can easily assimilate them. Enjoy your day.
Veronica Hay